Deval Patrick on Immigration

Democrat

In-state tuition ok for illegals; focus on employers

Q: Would you allow illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates at public colleges?

PATRICK: [Yes, but] this is one issue where I think both sides have a point. The folks on the other side of the question from where I am say we should only reward
people who play by the rules and they’re right. I understand that immigration is a serious problem. But people are not coming here for in-state tuition, they’re coming here for jobs. We need to come down hard on employers.

Drivers licenses for illegals, for security and safety

Q: Should illegals be issued drivers licenses?

PATRICK: I support that because of the security issues. I want to know the names and addresses and faces of the people who are here. The people who are driving on the roads, I want the insurance issues
dealt with, I want to know the people on the road know the rules of the road. Let’s be clear, people are not coming to Massachusetts to get a drivers license, they’re coming to get jobs. The first thing we have to do is secure our borders.

Supports in-state tuition rates for illegal immigrants

A war of words has erupted between Attorney General Tom Reilly and Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey after Reilly went to bat for a bill giving state college tuition breaks to illegal immigrants. The pair clashed in a heated impromptu debate yesterday on WRKO-680 AM
radio. “Illegal immigrants should not be here,” Healey told the Herald. “When they’re legal, we will welcome them with all the benefits afforded to Massachusetts citizens.”

“She’s totally out of touch,” Reilly said of Healey. “These are kids that just
want a chance.“

Healey fired back, saying: ”Tom Reilly is the one who is out of touch with working families of Massachusetts if he thinks they want their tax dollars to pay for illegal immigrants to go to college.“

Deval Patrick also supports the
bill. ”Denying kids who qualify in every other way to be an in-state student is unfair,“ Patrick said. ”We shouldn’t be trying to erect barriers.“ Nine other states have laws that allow illegal immigrants to attend state colleges at resident rates.